Marriage In The 18th Century

Society has continuously held women lowly compared to men. Society limited women to what they could do; thus, most of them played the role of homemakers. Women could not own property, or take part in matters concerning finances (Wipprecht 3). Besides, there was also undue pressure for the women to get married. Still, in marriage, men upheld the social constructions about the women. The society felt that women could not achieve anything without the help of men. Nowadays, women have been empowered, and while there are societies that still perceive women as lowly beings, there are others that have integrated women in all aspects of life; therefore, treating them as equals to men. Marriage is an institution, which has continued to evolve with time. The way society viewed marriage in the eighteenth century differs greatly with the
According to Mary Chudleigh, “Wife and servant are the same; But only differ in name” (1-2). Although the speaker is married, she feels like a servant to her husband. The speaker compares wives to servants because they serve their husbands without questioning, protesting or complaining. Similarly, servants do not question their master’s instructions (Bracket 408). They do what their masters ask of them. Katherine Philips says, “A married state affords but little ease; The best of husbands are so hard to please” (1-2). In these lines, the speaker suggests that the realities of marriage place unnecessary roles in the lives of women. One of the things women must do in marriage is to please their husbands. Therefore, like servants, wives must do their best to make sure that their husbands are happy, even when they are not (Glancy 145). Katherine Phillips and Mary Chudleigh have a negative view of marriage, mainly because of their experiences and the way women undergo suffering to please their